Return Item Purchased Online -- Request Refund to Different Card

smileysamt

I'm in the UK. I bought something online from Debenhams, and want to return it -- it is within the return period; no problems there. However, I no longer use the card that it was bought on.

Is the retailer required to proved a refund to some card, or can it demand the original payment card?

I'd like to just use my new debit card to get the refund, rather than an old one. They'll surely offer me a gift card, but I don't want this.

The item is clothing, and I am returning due to the fact that it does not fit -- it is not faulty. It is in the window to return.

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A short summary:

 - purchased clothes online
 - paid with card
 - do not fit and want to return
 - would like returned to a different (debit) card

cymruchris

Unlikely - refunds have to go back to their original payment source. If the account has been closed - it’ll still be active for instances such as this when a refund is needed. Let the refund happen - and then get in touch with your previous account provider and request a return of your balance. They’ll outline the options open to you when they do so. They restrict it to the original card to reduce the likelihood of fraud. Person X orders something on a compromised card - returns it - says I want it refunded to a different card, original owner of first card person Y, sees unauthorised transaction on their statement - calls up to dispute it - person X has already spent their new free money - person Y demands their money back - loss has been incurred. 

smileysamt

Thanks for your super quick response!

I understand the fundamentals of your response, but I would be wanting it refunded to a card in my name -- so the "Person X" and "Person Y" are, in this case, both me! At M&S for example, they were happy with just any card in my name.

Do you know of any regulations which state that it must be to a certain card, or which state that it can be to any card?

Manxman_in_exile

When you say you "no longer use the card it was bought on...", what do you mean and what are you worried about?  If the refund gets credited back to that old card, the fact you "no longer use" it doesn't mean you won't get the money back.  Even if you've closed the account your (ex) bank should be able to cope with it and transfer the refund to you. 

Having said that, I'm not sure if the legislation actually says that refunds have to be paid to the "same card" or simply that they must go back via the "same method".  Certainly some retailers insist on refunds going back to the exact same card.  Whether they are correct* to do so I don't know - but someone here will.   (I did have an issue returning some faulty goods last year where the card had been lost and replaced - same account etc.  The retailer wanted to refund to the card but was happy to refund in cash*).

*  Actually I thought the legal position was that the refund needed to be via the same method as the purchase, unless the purchaser agreed to accept a refund via a different method.  Somebody here will know for sure and you can point that out to the retailer.  You say you are still within the return period - do you mean Debenham's return period or the stautory period for online purchases, or both?

smileysamt

It appears that there is no requirement. See this answer: https://money.stackexchange.com/a/126886/66245.

Carrot007

smileysamt said:

It appears that there is no requirement. See this answer: https://money.stackexchange.com/a/126886/66245.

Precicely. I don't know why people think it is.

It generally boild down to it is best practoce to refund to the same card. Which is is for obvious reasons. Companies generally do not think of complex requirements for refunds at the best of time so the systems get build with this is mind. What they mean is it is hard. Or no one has taught me how to do that, or this will take time and look bad on my stats.

I'm not saying they should ust do it on request. It would be reasonable to provide evidence to the company like a closure of account letter (or same on your credit report if enough time has passed it has been updated). Of course again for them to do that someone would have had to have thought of the requirements and put the system in place and see previous comment.

If there really is aa good reason for this keep at it. Go higher. And proactively provide the evidence before they even think to ask.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

smileysamt said:

I'm in the UK. I bought something online from Debenhams, and want to return it -- it is within the return period; no problems there. However, I no longer use the card that it was bought on.

Is the retailer required to proved a refund to some card, or can it demand the original payment card?

I'd like to just use my new debit card to get the refund, rather than an old one. They'll surely offer me a gift card, but I don't want this.

The item is clothing, and I am returning due to the fact that it does not fit -- it is not faulty. It is in the window to return.

---

A short summary:

 - purchased clothes online
 - paid with card
 - do not fit and want to return
 - would like returned to a different (debit) card

Why have you asked the same question in two different forums! The retailer will put you in the position you were prior to your purchase, which if it was in store, is over and above your statuary rights. End of. This is to prevent money laundering and the like. You could insist that it is sent to another account, but  why should they.

I will now interpret your question for the not so gullible.

OP purchased an expensive trinket on their credit card knowingly wanting to refund this. I suppose this is so that you could get a cash advance on another account?

born_again

smileysamt said:

It appears that there is no requirement. See this answer: https://money.stackexchange.com/a/126886/66245.

>>>

hese explicitly state, in s34:

(7) The trader must make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as the consumer used for the initial transaction, unless the consumer has expressly agreed otherwise.

So you don't have any right to insist on anything different.

Sometimes retailers choose to be more generous in their own contract terms, but from what you've said in comments, the returns policy of the retailer also refers to the original payment card.

If you were returning to a shop, then in practice they would probably ask for the card and it might just work out if you handed over a different one. But given that this was an online transaction, it's likely it'll all be processed automatically and you won't have any opportunity to persuade them to use a different one.

<<<

It is in the Visa regulations that retailer sign up to, that refunds have to be to the same card as used to purchase.

Also the above says nowhere that they have too, other than if customer is happy. But that is still so long as they are prepared to offer the option. Which given the amount of shoplifting they suffer. Most won't, with good reason.